Tiles, roof and building structure

ABSTRACT

Tiles comprising a mating surface and a roofing surface, wherein the roofing surface is elevated above the mating surface and is shaped to guide or direct a liquid to flow from an upstream first end to a downstream second end under the influence of gravity when the mating surface rests on a leveled surface, and wherein the mating surface comprises a mating or coupling means which is adapted to make complementary mating or coupling engagement with a support member or a support surface having a complementary mating or coupling means.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to roof tiles, and more particularly tomodular roof tiles having a mating surface for mated insertion onto thesupport surface of a structure for rapid assembly. The present inventionalso relates to roofs and building structures comprising roof tiles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Roofs are present in many building structures to shield against adverseweathering such as rain, heat and snow or hail. Conventional roofstypically comprise a sloped roof surface arrange to drain rain water andthe sloped surface is typically elevated above a support surface toprovide thermal insulation. Such typical roofs have been disclosed in USpatent numbers U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,004 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,866,092.

A typical roof is constructed from an ensemble of roof panels or rooftiles. Exemplary roof panels and roof tiles are disclosed for example inUS patent numbers U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,432, U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,905 andU.S. Pat. No. 7,003,922. For example, the roofing system of U.S. Pat.No. 6,519,905 is adapted to be supported on a support surface, and thesystem comprises a plurality of panels arranged in partially overlappingrelation to form a roof. Each of the panels has first and second sideedges, an upper and lower surface providing a series of barrels andpans, a first side region defining a portion of a barrel and a firstcylindrical mating surface, and a second-side region defining a portionof a pan and a second cylindrical mating surface, wherein the panels arearranged in overlapping relation so that the first and second matingsurfaces are sealing engaged.

The roofing system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,432 comprises an interlockingroof tile formed as a single integral member having at least two tileelements lying in different planes so that a step is formed betweenthem. The tile elements are offset from each other both along a rowdirection and transverse to a row direction so that one tile elementwill lie in a row above and laterally offset from each other.

The roofing system of U.S. Pat. No. 7,003,922 discloses an extrudedconcrete interlocking roof tile having upper and under surfaces, upperand lower edges, two opposite side edges, with the upper surface havinga recess extending transversely between two opposite edges adjacent theupper edge for receiving a lower edge region of an adjacent tile in anoverlapping relationship, and in that an integral spacer acts betweenthe recess floor and the under-surface of the adjacent tile.

Roof tiles of known roofing systems are typically laid and fastened on aroofing frame having a predefined inclination and the roof tiles arealso arranged such that adjacent roof tiles are also interlocked. Whilesuch roof tiles have been used for a long time, it is appreciated thatimprovements are desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is provided a tile comprising a mating surface and a roofingsurface, wherein the roofing surface is elevated above the matingsurface and is shaped to guide or direct a liquid to flow from anupstream first end to a downstream second end under the influence ofgravity when the mating surface rests on a leveled surface, and whereinthe mating surface comprises a mating or coupling means which is adaptedto make complementary mating or coupling engagement with a supportmember or a support surface having a complementary mating or couplingmeans.

In an example, the first end and the second end of the roofing surfaceare at different elevation levels relative to the leveled surface andcollectively define a draining slope on the roofing surface when themating surface rests on the leveled surface.

The mating or coupling means on the support member or the supportsurface may comprise a coupling or engagement surface on which there isformed a plurality of coupling or engagement members, the plurality ofcoupling or engagement members being distributed in a regular matrixhaving a uniform spacing along first and second orthogonal axes; andwherein the mating or coupling means on the mating surface of the tilecomprises a plurality of coupling or engagement members which is adaptedto enter into complementary mating engagement with the plurality ofcoupling or engagement members on the support member or the supportsurface.

The plurality of coupling or engagement members on the mating surface ofthe tile may be distributed in a matrix. Usually, the matrix has auniform spacing along first and second orthogonal axes. The uniformspacing is typically the same as that on the matrix on the coupling orengagement surface of the support member or the support surface.

In general, the roofing surface is elevated above the mating surface byan elevation means, the elevation means defining the elevation of thefirst end and the elevation of the second end when the mating surfacemakes mating or coupling engagement with the support member or thesupport surface.

To promote structural integrity as well as reliability, the mating orcoupling means on the mating surface may be an integral part of theelevation means.

As an example, the elevation means may comprise a plurality of elevationmembers which extends downwardly from the roofing surface, and whereinthe mating or coupling means of the tile is defined collectively by thefree ends of the plurality of elevation members.

Each elevation member of the tile may comprise a supporting column. Thesupporting columns of the tile may collectively define the elevationmeans and each supporting column defining an axial bore which is adaptedfor making individual mated engagement or coupling with a coupling orengagement member on the support member or support surface.

The downstream second end of the roofing surface may overhangs orproject beyond the mating surface of the tile.

The roofing surface typically comprises first and second lateral sideswhich interconnect the upstream first and downstream second ends of theroofing surface, the lateral sides overhanging or projecting beyond themating surface of the tile.

The first and second lateral sides of the roofing surface may be adaptedto overlap with lateral sides of adjacent tiles when the tiles aremounted on the support member or the support surface to form a roof.

In general, the roofing surface may either be a liquid repelling surfaceor a liquid collection surface, the liquid repelling surface beingadapted to direct a liquid collected by the roofing surface to bedispersed towards the lateral sides of the roofing surface when flowingfrom the upstream first end to the downstream second end, and the liquidcollection surface being adapted to direct a liquid collected by theroofing surface to be concentrated in a portion of the roofing surfaceintermediate the first and second lateral sides of the roofing surfacewhen flowing from the upstream first end to the downstream second end.

The roofing surface may have a uniformly arcuate profile between theupstream first and the downstream second ends.

The roofing surface may be either convexly or concavely curved along anaxis of symmetry, the axis of symmetry extending between the upstreamfirst and the downstream second ends and is intermediate the first andsecond lateral sides of the roofing surface.

The roofing surface typically comprises an upstream first end, adownstream second end and a downstream third end, the upstream first endbeing intermediate the downstream second and third ends; wherein theupstream first end is a liquid dividing ridge adapted to divide liquidfalling on the roofing surface to flow either towards the downstreamsecond end or the downstream third end.

The upstream first end may extend orthogonally across the lateral sidesof the roofing surface.

The upstream first end may be about midway between the downstream secondand third ends.

The roofing surface and the mating surface may be integrally moulded asa single piece.

The roofing surface and the mating surface may be moulded of hardplastics.

There is also provided set of tiles comprising a first type of tileseach having a liquid collection surface and a second type of tiles eachhaving a liquid repelling surface. The first and second types of tilesare such that lateral sides of adjacent tiles of different types willoverlap with a lateral side portion of a tile of the first typeimmediately underneath an overlapping lateral side portion of a tile thesecond type when mounted on a support member or a support surface.

The overlapping side portions may be complementarily curved such thatliquid repelled by a tile of the second type will be collected by a tileof the first type when mounted on a support member or a support surface.

A roof may comprise a plurality of tiles described herein and assembledon a support member or a support surface, wherein the tiles areassembled to form a corrugated roof comprising a plurality ofalternately disposed liquid repelling ridges and liquid collectingchannels.

Each liquid repelling ridge may be assembled from a plurality of tileseach having a liquid repelling surface, and each liquid collectingchannel is assembled from a plurality of tiles each having a liquidcollection surface.

In the example, a tile of the first type or a tile of the second type inthe roof is overhung by three adjacent tiles while overhanging anotherthree adjacent tiles.

As shown in the examples, there is described a building structurecomprising a roof constructed from a plurality of tiles disclosedherein.

The roof may be supported on a base structure. The base structure maycomprise a mating surface for making mating engagement with the matingsurfaces on the roofing tiles.

The base structure may be constructed from a plurality of buildingblocks each having an upper mating surface, the upper mating surfacecomprising a plurality of upper mating protrusions arranged in a matrixor an array, the matrix or array having uniform spacing along first andsecond orthogonal axes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be explained below by way ofexample and with reference to the accompanying drawings or figures, inwhich:—

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a model building structurecomprising roof tiles according to several embodiments of the presentinvention,

FIGS. 1A and 1B are respectively front and side views if the modelbuilding structure of FIG. 1,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the model building structure of FIG. 1with two of the roof tiles removed to expose part of the building roofsupport base,

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of the model building structure of FIG. 1with all roof tiles removed to expose the building roof support base,

FIGS. 3, 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are respectively top plan, bottom plan, sideelevation top perspective and bottom perspective of a first exemplaryembodiment of a roof tile of the present invention,

FIGS. 4, 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are respectively top plan, bottom plan, sideelevation top perspective and bottom perspective of a second exemplaryembodiment of a roof tile of the present invention,

FIGS. 5, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are respectively top plan, bottom plan, sideelevation top perspective and bottom perspective of a third exemplaryembodiment of a roof tile of the present invention, and

FIGS. 6, 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D are respectively top plan, bottom plan, sideelevation top perspective and bottom perspective of a fourth exemplaryembodiment of a roof tile of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a dog house.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The model building structure 10 shown in FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B depicts anexemplary embodiment of a building structure comprising a building roofstructure assembled from a plurality of roof tiles. The model buildingstructure 10 comprises a building roof structure 30 which is supportedon a building roof support base 20. The building roof support base 20 isassembled from a plurality of modular building blocks. The modularbuilding blocks are arranged such that building roof support base 20 hasa stepped descending profile of gradually descending from the middlehighest portion towards both sides.

Each of the building roof support building blocks 22 forming thebuilding roof support base 20 includes an upper mating surface on whichthere is formed a plurality of building upper mating protrusions 24 anda lower mating surface for making mating engagements with buildingblocks underneath. The building upper mating protrusions are arrangedinto an array or matrix, for example, an array or matrix of 2×4cylindrical protrusions with uniform spacing such that the longitudinaland transversal separation between adjacent protrusions is constant oruniform. The building roof support base 20 structure is formed bystacking of modular building blocks into a tapered support surface. Toform such a tapered support structure, it is only necessary to graduallyreduce the number of building blocks when built towards the top portionof the structure.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the building upper mating protrusions which areexposed on the top surface of the base structure are evenly distributedon the top surface with a uniform longitudinal and transverse spacingidentical to that of an individual building block.

The roof shown in FIGS. 1, 1A, 1B is constructed from 4 embodiments ofroof tiles according to the present invention. Each of the roof tilescomprises a roofing surface and a slope defining mating surface.

In a first embodiment of roof tiles as depicted in FIGS. 3-3D, the rooftile 100 is moduled of hard plastics and comprises a roofing surface 110and a mating surface 120. The mating surface is underneath the roofingsurface and includes an elevation mechanism to support and elevate theroofing surface so that the roofing surface is at a predetermined slopewhen the mating surface rests on a leveled support surface.

The roofing surface of the roof tile of FIG. 3 is configured as a waterrepelling surface and includes a downstream end 114 and an upstream end112, the upstream end being elevated above the downstream end. The waterrepelling surface comprises a convexly curved surface which extendsbetween the upstream and downstream ends with a constant orsubstantially constant curvature. The curvature of the convexly curvedsurface is symmetrical or substantially symmetrical about an axis ofsymmetry which extends between the upstream and downstream ends andpasses through the middle of the water repelling surface. The axis ofsymmetry at the middle of the water repelling surface also defines awater dividing line on the convexly curved surface such that when waterdrops on one lateral side of the axis of the water dividing line, thewater will flow towards that a lateral extremity on that lateral sideand vice versa.

The mating surface 120 comprises a matrix of 2×2 tubular elements 130 asan example of plurality of downwardly extending mating elements whichare formed on the underside of the water repelling surface. The tubularelements are distributed at nodes of a regular grid formed from anintersection of orthogonal axes such that the spacing between adjacenttubular elements on a same axis is the same. As shown in the side andelevation views of FIG. 3B, the length of the tubular elements at thedownstream end is shorter than that at the upstream end while tubularelements at the same axial distance from the upstream or downstream endsare of the same length. This arrangement of the tubular elements definesthe slope of the roofing surface as well as providing distributedsupport to the roofing surface. Where there are more than two tubularelements distributed along the long of an axis, the heights of thetubular elements between the downstream and upstream ends (or along thedirection of axis of symmetry) are gradually changed to define the slopeand to provide distributed support.

In addition to defining the slope of the roofing surface and providingdistributed support to the roofing surface, each tubular element is alsoa mechanical mating element adapted for making mating connection with acomplementarily shaped mating element formed on the building roofsupport base 20. More particularly, each tubular element is adapted tofit on a vertically extending protrusion form the building roof supportbase, and the fitted engagement between the tubular elements and thecomplementary protrusions collectively form a detachable matingengagement. As shown in FIG. 3A, the periphery of the roofing surface110 overhangs the ensemble of the mating elements to provide extra oroverlapping water shading surface to be explained. In other words, thefootprint of the roofing surface 110 exceeds the footprint of theensemble of mating elements.

The roof tile 200 depicted in FIGS. 4-4D illustrates a second embodimentof a roof tile according to the present invention. The roof tile 200 issubstantially identical to the roof tile 100 except that the roofingsurface is configured as a water collecting surface. Features or partsof the roof tile 100 which are common or equivalent to features of partsof the roof tile 200 are incorporated herein where appropriate and areidentified with the same numerals but increased by 100.

Similar to the roof tile 100 of FIGS. 3-3D, the roof tile is integrallymould of hard plastics and includes a roofing surface 210 and a matingsurface 220. The mating surface 220 comprises a plurality of downwardlyextending tubular elements 230 which are formed on the underside of thewater collecting surface. The tubular elements are distributed at nodesof a regular grid formed from an intersection of orthogonal axes suchthat the spacing between adjacent tubular elements on a same axis is thesame. Likewise, periphery of the roofing surface 210 overhangs theensemble of the mating elements 220 to provide extra or overlappingwater shading surface to be explained. In other words, the footprint ofthe roofing surface 210 exceeds the footprint of the ensemble of matingelements 220.

The roofing surface 210 of FIG. 4 is configured as a water collectingsurface and includes a downstream end 214 and an upstream end 212, theupstream end being elevated above the downstream end. The watercollecting surface comprises a concavely curved surface which extendsbetween the upstream and downstream ends with a constant orsubstantially constant curvature. The curvature of the concavely curvedsurface is symmetrical or substantially symmetrical about an axis ofsymmetry which extends between the upstream and downstream ends andpasses through the middle of the water collecting surface. The axis ofsymmetry at the middle of the water collecting surface also defines awater flow line on the concavely curved surface such that water drops onthe roofing surface will be directed to flow towards that the water flowline or the axis of symmetry during to the concaved curvature towardsthe water flow line.

The roof tile 300 depicted in FIGS. 5-5D illustrates a third embodimentof a roof tile according to the present invention. The roof tile 300 isidentical to roof tile 100 in that it includes a roofing surface 310 anda mating surface 320 which supports and defines the roofing surface. Theroof tile 300 is different from roof tile 100 in that the slope of theroofing surface inflects at a water dividing ridge or a water dividingline located intermediate two free ends of the roofing surface. Thiswater dividing ridge or water dividing line as an example of a waterdivider 312 extends transversely across the roofing surface as. Inaddition, the water divider also defines the highest roofing level onthe roofing surface 310 and is therefore the upstream end of the rooftile 300. The two free ends of the roof tile 314 are on two sides of thewater divider and are below the level of the water divider. As such, thetwo free ends both become downstream ends relative to the water divider.The roofing surface 310 of the roof tile 300 is also a convexly curvedwater repelling surface, and the curvature is symmetrical about a lineof symmetry which extends between the two ends and intersects the middleof the water divider. While the roofing surface 310 inflects at thewater divider, the curvature of the convexly curved water repellingsurface is substantially constant between the two free ends. Likewise,periphery of the roofing surface 310 overhangs the ensemble of themating elements 320 to provide extra or overlapping water shadingsurface to be explained. In other words, the footprint of the roofingsurface 310 exceeds the footprint of the ensemble of mating elements320. Features or parts of the roof tile 100 which are common orequivalent to features of parts of the roof tile 300 are incorporatedherein for succinctness where appropriate and are identified with thesame numerals but increased by 200.

The roof tile 400 depicted in FIGS. 6-6D illustrates a fourth embodimentof a roof tile according to the present invention. The roof tile 400 isidentical to roof tile 100 in that it includes a roofing surface 410 anda mating surface 420 which supports and defines the roofing surface. Theroof tile 400 is different from roof tile 100 but similar to that of theroof tile 300 in that the slope of the roofing surface inflects at awater dividing ridge or a water dividing line located intermediate twofree ends of the roofing surface. Similar to that of the roof tile 300,this water dividing ridge or water dividing line as an example of awater divider 412 of the roof tile 400 extends transversely across theroofing surface as. Likewise, periphery of the roofing surface 410overhangs the ensemble of the mating elements 420 to provide extra oroverlapping water shading surface to be explained. In other words, thefootprint of the roofing surface 410 exceeds the footprint of theensemble of mating elements 420. In addition, the water divider alsodefines the highest roofing level on the roofing surface 410 and istherefore the upstream end of the roof tile 400. The two free ends ofthe roof tile 414 are on two sides of the water divider and are belowthe level of the water divider. As such, the two free ends both becomedownstream ends relative to the water divider. Similar to the roof tile200 and different to that of roof tile 300, the roofing surface 410 ofthe roof tile 400 is a concavely curved water collection surface, andthe curvature is symmetrical about a line of symmetry which extendsbetween the two ends and intersects the middle of the water divider.While the roofing surface 410 inflects at the water divider, thecurvature of the concavely curved water collection surface issubstantially constant between the two free ends. Features or parts ofthe roof tile 100 which are common or equivalent to features of parts ofthe roof tile 100, 200 and 300 are incorporated herein for succinctnesswhere appropriate and are identified with the same numerals butincreased by 300, 200 and 100 respectively.

Assembly of the model building structure depicted in FIGS. 1, 1A and 1Busing the embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

Firstly, a roof base support 20 comprising 4 stepped layers andassembled from a plurality of modular building blocks as an example of aroof support structure is shown in FIG. 2A. The roof base support 20 isarranged such that the middle building block is at the highest verticallevel, while the vertical levels of support layers 3, 2, 1 graduallydecrease by the height of the building blocks. The width of thisexemplary roof base support is constant and is equal to the width of amodular building block having an upper mating surface which comprises a2×4 matrix of building upper mating protrusions 24. Each 2×2 matrix ofbuilding upper mating protrusions is adapted for complementary matingwith a 2×2 matrix of mating elements on the roof tiles 100-400, and the2×4 matrix of building upper mating protrusions 24 is adapted forcomplementary mating with two roof tiles 100-400. The periphery of theroofing surface of each of the roof tiles 100-400 is arranged such thatwhen a roof tile is mated on a corresponding matrix of the buildingupper mating protrusions on the building roof support base, the roofingsurface will project beyond boundaries of the block defining thebuilding upper mating protrusions 24 and extend into the boundary of thenext block or next matrix of building upper mating protrusions 24. Forexample, the roofing surface at projects beyond the width of thebuilding roof support building block 22. Where the roofing surface is atan extremity of the building roof support building block 24, the roofingsurface will project beyond that extremity. Where the roofing surface isat not an extremity of the building roof support building block 24, theroofing surface will project into the territory covered by an adjacentroofing surface. Therefore, in general the roofing surfaces are arrangedsuch that adjacent roofing surfaces mutually overlap and/or incontiguous contact to define an overlapped roofing portion for improvedwater shielding.

Referring to an exemplary method of assembling a roof of FIG. 1, a firstroof tile 200 is firstly placed on a layer two roof support block, andthen a roof tile 100 is inserted adjacent to the first roof tile. Whenthe roof tiles 100 and 200 are so placed, the peripheral roof surface ofthe roof tile 100 is immediately above and overlaps with a correspondingadjacent peripheral roofing surface of the roof tile 200. The relativeheights of the peripheral surfaces of the first and second type of rooftiles 100, 200 are adapted such that when they are inserted on a leveledsupport surface having complementary mating arrangements, the peripheralroof surface of the first roof tile will be immediately above and in anoverlapped interlocking relationship with a corresponding peripheralroofing surface of the second roof tile, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A.Likewise, the third and fourth types of roof tiles 300, 400 are adaptedto be laid on a water dividing ridge of a structure and have the same orsimilar overlapping relationship with adjacent roof tiles. The mutuallylapping relationship between adjacent roof tiles means betterinterlocking of adjacent roof tiles as well as better water shielding asthe overhanging portions will help to dispose water from a roof tileinto an adjacent tile at a location further away from the periphery oredge.

FIG. 7 depicts a dog house which comprises a roof structure assembledfrom a plurality of roof tiles described above and schematicallydescribed in FIGS. 3-3D, 4-4D, 5-5D and 6-6D. The dog house comprises ahouse base 40 which is assembled from a plurality of building blocks inmated interconnection. Each building block comprises a main body havingan upper mating surface and a lower mating surface. The upper matingsurface comprises a plurality of upper mating protrusions, and the lowermating surface comprises a same or corresponding plurality of lowermating protrusions. The mating protrusions are arranged in a regularmatrix or array. The matrix or array is regular in the sense that thereis a uniform spacing between adjacent mating protrusion along first andsecond orthogonal axes. The plurality of building blocks collectivelydefines walls of the dog house and forms the house base 40. The uppermating protrusions are distributed on the uppermost free ends of thehouse bases and are exposed for mated interconnection with the rooftiles in order that the roof structure can be assembled onto the housebase 40 by mated engagement of coupling.

As depicted in FIG. 7, the roof structure is corrugated and comprisesalternate rows of water collection channels and water repelling ridges.Each water collection channel is constructed from a plurality of rooftiles 200 having a water collection surface. Each water repelling ridgeis constructed from a plurality of roof tiles 100 having a waterrepelling surfaces. The water collection channels and water repellingridges are assembled such that a lateral side portion of a watercollection channel is immediately underneath a corresponding lateralside portion of a corresponding water repelling ridge such that waterrepelled by the water repelling ridge is collected by the watercollection channel when water flows from an upstream end of the waterrepelling ridge towards the downstream end. With this arrangement, watercollected by the roof structure will be diverted to flow along the watercollection channels which are between the water repelling ridges. Tomitigate the risk of water seepage when collected water is passed fromthe water repelling ridges to the water collection channels, the rooftiles are assembled such that lateral portions of adjacent roof tilesare overlapping so that there will be no gap between adjacent waterrepelling ridges to the water collection channels. In this regard, itwill be noted that the lateral portion of a roof tile projects beyondthe foot print of its lower mating surface. To further mitigate waterseepage, the lateral portions of adjacently disposed roof tiles arecomplementarily curved. Furthermore, the lateral portions of theadjacently disposed roof tiles may be contiguous to mitigate seepage dueto splashing. The projecting end or later portions of the roof tilesalso facilitate the formation of a balcony type overhanging at theextreme end of the roof structure to provide an enhanced rain shield.The roof structure also comprises a water dividing ridge formed by theroof tiles 300, 400 having two downstream ends. The water dividing reachdefines a local top of the roof structure.

In the examples, it will be appreciated that the roofing surface of aroof tile is elevated above the mating surface by an elevation means.The elevation means shown in the examples are circular columns eachhaving an internal bore as coupling or engagement means for making matedengagement with the building blocks on the house base 40. Theintegration of coupling or engagement means into the elevation means isadvantageous both for structural integrity, for reliability and for costsavings. While the internal bore is used as an example of an engagementmeans, it will be appreciated that the column itself or other mechanismcan be used as an engagement means. For example, where the coupling orengagement means on the house base comprises of a grid, the exterior ofthe column may be used as an engagement means to interlock with the gridto facilitate mated coupling. Of course, the column needs not to becircular, and can be oval, square or polygonal without loss ofgenerality.

While embodiment(s) of the present invention(s) has/have been explainedwith reference to the examples above, the embodiments are non-limitingexamples for illustrating the present invention(s) and should not beconstrued to limit the scope of the invention. For example, whileembodiments of the roof tiles have been explained with reference to aplastic moulded piece, it will be appreciated that the roof tiles couldbe formed from metal, such as steel or aluminum, whether by casting orextrusion, or concrete. Furthermore, while each of the third and fourthtiles comprises either a convexly curved or a concavely curved roofingsurface, it will be appreciated that the roof surfaces at opposite sidesof the water divider could be of opposite curvature without loss ofgenerality. For example, one side of the roofing surface could beconcavely curved while the other side is convexly curved.

Table of Numerals 10 Building structure 20 Building roof support base 22Building roof support building block 24 Building upper mating protrusion30 Building roof structure 40 House base 50 House roof 100 200 300 400Roofing title 110 210 310 410 Roofing surface 120 220 320 420 Matingsurface 130 230 330 430 Tubular elements 112 212 Upstream end 114 214Downstream end 312 412 Water divider 314 414 Free ends

1. A tile comprising a mating surface and a roofing surface, wherein theroofing surface is elevated above the mating surface and is shaped toguide or direct a liquid to flow from an upstream first end to adownstream second end under the influence of gravity when the matingsurface rests on a leveled surface, and wherein the mating surfacecomprises a mating or coupling means which is adapted to makecomplementary mating or coupling engagement with a support member or asupport surface having a complementary mating or coupling means.
 2. Atile according to claim 1, wherein the first end and the second end ofthe roofing surface are at different elevation levels relative to theleveled surface and collectively define a draining slope on the roofingsurface when the mating surface rests on the leveled surface.
 3. A tileaccording to claim 2, wherein the mating or coupling means on thesupport member or the support surface comprises a coupling or engagementsurface on which there is formed a plurality of coupling or engagementmembers, the plurality of coupling or engagement members beingdistributed in a regular matrix having a uniform spacing along first andsecond orthogonal axes; and wherein the mating or coupling means on themating surface of the tile comprises a plurality of coupling orengagement members which is adapted to enter into complementary matingengagement with the plurality of coupling or engagement members on thesupport member or the support surface.
 4. A tile according to claim 3,wherein the plurality of coupling or engagement members on the matingsurface of the tile is distributed in a matrix, the matrix having auniform spacing along first and second orthogonal axes, the uniformspacing being the same as that on the matrix on the coupling orengagement surface of the support member or the support surface.
 5. Atile according to claim 1, wherein the roofing surface is elevated abovethe mating surface by an elevation means, the elevation means definingthe elevation of the first end and the elevation of the second end whenthe mating surface makes mating or coupling engagement with the supportmember or the support surface.
 6. A tile according to claim 5, whereinthe mating or coupling means on the mating surface is an integral partof the elevation means.
 7. A tile according to claim 6, wherein theelevation means comprises a plurality of elevation members which extendsdownwardly from the roofing surface, and wherein the mating or couplingmeans of the tile is defined collectively by the free ends of theplurality of elevation members.
 8. A tile according to claim 7, whereineach elevation member of the tile comprises a supporting column, thesupporting columns of the tile collectively defining the elevation meansand each supporting column defining an axial bore which is adapted formaking individual mated engagement or coupling with a coupling orengagement member on the support member or support surface.
 9. A tileaccording to claim 1, wherein the downstream second end of the roofingsurface overhangs or projects beyond the mating surface of the tile. 10.A tile according to claim 1, wherein the roofing surface comprises firstand second lateral sides which interconnect the upstream first anddownstream second ends of the roofing surface, the lateral sidesoverhanging or projecting beyond the mating surface of the tile.
 11. Atile according to claim 1, wherein the first and second lateral sides ofthe roofing surface are adapted to overlap with lateral sides ofadjacent tiles when the tiles are mounted on the support member or thesupport surface to form a roof.
 12. A tile according to claim 1, whereinthe roofing surface is either a liquid repelling surface or a liquidcollection surface, the liquid repelling surface being adapted to directa liquid collected by the roofing surface to be dispersed towards thelateral sides of the roofing surface when flowing from the upstreamfirst end to the downstream second end, and the liquid collectionsurface being adapted to direct a liquid collected by the roofingsurface to be concentrated in a portion of the roofing surfaceintermediate the first and second lateral sides of the roofing surfacewhen flowing from the upstream first end to the downstream second end.13. A tile according to claim 1, wherein the roofing surface has auniformly arcuate profile between the upstream first and the downstreamsecond ends.
 14. A tile according to claim 13, wherein the roofingsurface is either convexly or concavely curved along an axis ofsymmetry, the axis of symmetry extending between the upstream first andthe downstream second ends and is intermediate the first and secondlateral sides of the roofing surface.
 15. A tile according to claim 1,wherein the roofing surface comprises an upstream first end, adownstream second end and a downstream third end, the upstream first endbeing intermediate the downstream second and third ends; wherein theupstream first end is a liquid dividing ridge adapted to divide liquidfalling on the roofing surface to flow either towards the downstreamsecond end or the downstream third end.
 16. A tile according to claim15, wherein the upstream first end extends across the lateral sides ofthe roofing surface.
 17. A set of tiles comprising a first type of tileseach having a liquid collection surface and a second type of tiles eachhaving a liquid repelling surface, wherein each type of tiles is a tilecomprising a mating surface and a roofing surface, wherein the roofingsurface is elevated above the mating surface and is shaped to guide ordirect a liquid to flow from an upstream first end to a downstreamsecond end under the influence of gravity when the mating surface restson a leveled surface, and wherein the mating surface comprises a matingor coupling means which is adapted to make complementary mating orcoupling engagement with a support member or a support surface having acomplementary mating or coupling means, and wherein the first and secondtypes of tiles are such that lateral sides of adjacent tiles ofdifferent types will overlap with a lateral side portion of a tile ofthe first type immediately underneath an overlapping lateral sideportion of a tile the second type when mounted on a support member or asupport surface, and wherein the overlapping side portions arecomplementarily curved such that liquid repelled by a tile of the secondtype will be collected by a tile of the first type when mounted on asupport member or a support surface.
 18. (canceled)
 19. A roofcomprising a plurality of tiles according to claim 1, assembled on asupport member or a support surface, wherein the tiles are assembled toform a corrugated roof comprising a plurality of alternately disposedliquid repelling ridges and liquid collecting channels, and wherein eachliquid repelling ridge is assembled from a plurality of tiles eachhaving a liquid repelling surface, and each liquid collecting channel isassembled from a plurality of tiles each having a liquid collectionsurface.
 20. (canceled)
 21. A roof according to claim 19, wherein a tileof the first type or a tile of the second type in the roof is overhungby three adjacent tiles while overhanging another three adjacent tiles.22. A building structure comprising a roof constructed from a pluralityof tiles according to claim 1.